Machine for manufacturing bottle-crowns.



R. B. COCHRAN, Jn. MACHINE POR MANUF URING BOTTL OWNB. APPLIUM'ION r 1J001212, 19o

1 ,006, 997, Patented Oct. 24,

3 SHEET V I 4f@ I *5j Il noauto: wm 7/ .E :/Zfm f ma C Z//f F ff @i Yanomaly R. B. COCHRAN, Jn. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BUTTLE GROWNS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T,12, 1908. 1,006,997.

R. B. CUGHRAN, Jn. MACHINE PoR MANUFACTURING BOTTLE oNoWNs. APPLICATIONI'ILBD 00T- 12, 1008.

1 ,006,997, Patented Oct. 24, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. N

` N 11 In m vwantoz attain-uio 'UNITED STATES PfkTEN T OFFICE.

ROBERT B. COCHRAN, JR., OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BOTTLE-CROWNS.

To all whom it may concern.'

lie it known that. l, ltonmrr li. (loculi/iN, Jr., a citizen ot theUnit-ed States, residing at Charlotte, in the county oi Meckleiihurg andState ol North Carolina, have invented a new and useful lVIachinc forManufacturing lottIeCioWns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improve.- lnents in machines fornninulacturing bottle crownsI and is designed more particularly for theproduction ot' bottle crowns provided 'with a thin cork disk anddesigned to be crimped about the neck ot' the hottie in the mannercommonly employed for soda bot tles and beer bottles and like bottles.

.In accordance with the present invention there is provided a step bystep rotatable disk provided with dies shaped to mold or forni thecrimped metal portion of the bottle cap and in conjunction with thisrotatable plate there is provided a plunger capable of cutting disksfrom a strip and then forming these disks into the crimped cup shapedcap by means oiia plunger of suitable shape. These crimped hups are madesuccessively as the plate ontable revolves step by step. As soon as thecup has been formed it is carried one step forward to the next. plungerwhich is supplied with a suitable cement which this plunger deposits inthe already formed cup. On the next forward step in the rotation of thedisk or table the formed metal cap is brought into coincidence withanother plun er but between this plunger and the cap tiere is a slidingcarrier for conveying disks of cork from a magazine therefor to a pointimmediately below the plunger and at the proper time the plungerdescends and forces the cork disk int-o the cap and against the cementtherein. As soon as the machine has progressed a suitable distance,provision is made for the lifting of the finished cap from the die andthe directing of the same away from the disk or table into a suitablerece atacle.

T e invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detail description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming a art of this specification, with the understan inghowever that the structure shown in the drawings is not to be taken asthe exact structure of the invention since Various changes in suchstructure may be made Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 12, 1908.

.Patented Oct. 211., 1911. serial No. 457,373.

without departing from the true the invention.

In the drawings, Figure I is view oi the machine embodying theinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionon the line A-li of Fig. l. Fig.Si is a vertical cross section on the line C-l) otl Fig. l. Fig. 4- is avertical cross section on the line ll--F ot' Fig. 1 with parts omitted.Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section on the line G-ll of Fig. l with someparts omitted. Fig. (i is a detailed view of a stop mechanism forniingpart of the machine.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a casing 1 constituting thebase or supporting structure of the machine designed to inclose certainportions of the mechanism, hut. which may be otherwise constructed thanshown in the drawings. Upon the upper face of the casing 1 there issecured a disk 2 and upon the disk 2 there is mounted another disk 3capable of rotating on the disk 2 which latter is fixed against rotationon the casing 1. The disk 3 is provided with a central boss 4 and hub 5and through the disks 2 and 3 and the boss 4 and hub 5 there extends arod entering the casing l and there having formed upon it 01 carrying a`frame 7 shown in the drawings as a rectangular frame and having a.sliding movementin the direction of the length of the rod 6 in guides 8fast on the inner faces of the sides of the casing 1. The frame 7 isheld normally in an elevated position by means of springs 9 fast at oneend to the frame and at the other end to the casing l.

scope of a. top plan The purpose of the frame 7 and rod 6 will ap earhereinafter.

The disk 3 is provided with a circular series of perforatlons 10 nearits periphery and in each perforation there is located a die block 11held in place by a screw 12 terminating at the outer end in a projectingrod or pin 13 extending radially beyond the outer edge of the disk 3 fora purpose which will presently appear. Each die 11 is formed at itsupper face with a depression 14 of proper form to shape a bottle cap ofthe crimped type. The bottom of the die recess is formed by a button 15having a stem 16 extendin toward the under side of the die through t ebody thereof.

Mounted upon the casin 1 adjacent to the disks 3 are three posts 1 18and 19 respectively and in substantially radial relation to the axis ofthe disk 3. The post 17 has pivoted to it one end of an arm 20, the post18 has pivoted to it one end of an arm 21, and the post 19 has pivotedto it one end of an arm 22. The arm 21 enters a head 23 fast on theupper end of the rod (l and is pivotally connected to this head by athrough pin 24, the head being hollowed out to receive and partiallyhouse the end of the arni. The arms 20 and 22 are appropriately bent toalso center the hollow portion of the head 23 in parallel relation tothe corresponding portion of the arm 21 and are likewise pivoted to thesaid head 23 by the pivot pin 24. The several arms where engaged by thepin 24 are recessed or slotted as indicated at 25. Each post 17 18 and19 is provided with laterally extending guide members 2G overhanging thedisk 3 and above the path of the dies 11 as the disk 3 is rotated in amanner to be presently described.

In the guides 2G of the post 17 there is mounted a tubular stem 27terminating at its lower end in a cutter head 28. Extending through thehollow stem 27 is a rod 29 terminating at the lower end within the head28 in a punch 3() of suitable shape to conform to the shape of therecess 14 of the die blocks 11. The rod 29 terminates at the upper endin a forked head 31 connected to the arm 20 by a pivot pin 32 andbetween the head 31 and the upper end of the hollow spindle 27 the rod29 is surrounded by a helical spring 33.

The guides 26 of the standard or post 18 receive a stem or rod 34 havinga h ead 35 atthe upper end straddling the arm21 and pivoted thereto by apin 3G. The lower end of the rod 34 carries a cap 37 containing -spcngeor other suitable absorbent material as shown at 38 and having at thelower end a perforation closed normally by a valve member 39 having aportion pro`ecting beyond the lower face of the cap 3 Within the rod orstem 34 is a passageway 40 lead ing into the cap 37 and at the other endconnected to a pipe 41 carrying at its upper end a reservoir 42 for anappropriate cement. Moving through the guides 2G of the post 19 is a rodor stern 43 ending at the lower end in a plain head 44 while the upperend of the rod 43 carries head 45 pivotally connected to the arm 22 by apivot pin 46.

Fast on the base or casing 1 and overriding the disk 3 beneath the die28 is a plate 47 between which and the disk 3 a strip of metal is passedso as to be in the path of the cutting member 28 when the latter islowered in a manner to be presently described. In the path of such metalstrip is a stop pin 48 on the lower end of a rod 49 guided in a tube 50.This rod is urged downward by means of a spring 51 and at the upper endhas a tooth 52 in the path of a trip 53 carried by the hollow stem 27.

Mounted in a block 54 on the casing or hase 1 is a sliding member 55 soarranged as to over-ride the disk 3 in close relation thereto andimmediately beneath the plun- .frer head 44.

Mounted in a suitable support 5G is a tubular reservoir 57 for corkdisks and the lower end of this reservoir is traversed by the slidingmember 55 which latter is provided with a perforation 58 of such sizeand the sliding member is of such thickness as to receive a cork diskfrom the reservoir and when the slide 55 is moved in a longitudinaldirection to carry such cork disk away from thc reservoir intocoincidence with the plunger head 44.

Extending through the casing 1 is a shaft 59 constituting the drivingshaft of the machine. This shaft has suitable bearings formed on orcarried by the casing 1 and beyond the latter is provided with a pulley60 by means of which power may be applied to said shaft in the usualmanner. rl'he shaft 59 carries a radially projecting plate G1 designedto engage the lower member of the frame 7 and force the latter againstthe act-ion of the springs 9 in a direction toward the botto-m of thecasing, the said springs 9 serving to return the frame to its upperposition. The shaft 59 also carries a worm or cam drum 62 enga ing afinger 63 depending from a sliding p ate or arm G4 mounted 1n the framein suitable guiding brackets 65. Fast on the plate 64 is an angle arm GGextending up through the top of the casing 1 and made fast to thesliding plate 55 before referred to. At the end of the shaft 59 remotefrom the cam member 62 is another cam 68. In the same end of the casing1 on the interior wall thereof there is pivoted an arm G9 at one endthereof and at the other end the arm carries a. bar 70. The bar extendsup through a slot indicated in dotted lines at 71 in the top of thecasing 1 as shown in Fig. 4, and in full lines in Fig. 1 and the upperend of this bar is movable inte engagement with the pin 13 on the edgeof the disk 3. The arm 69 and bar 70 are under the control of suitablesprings 72 and 73.

Mounted upon the casing 1 is a pawl 74 having a notch 75 at its free endadapted to engage over the pins 13. This pawl is normally urged in adirection to engage the pins by a suit-able spring 7G and projectinglaterally from the pawl 74 is a pin 77 in the path of a rod 78 risingthrough the top of the casing 1 and at its lower end within the casingconnected to the free end of a pivoted arm 79 normally uplifted by aspring 80. The arm 79 is normally controlled by a cam 81 on the shaft59.

Let it be supposed that the reservoir 42 has within it a suitablequantity of an appropriate cement and that the reservoir 57 is filledwith cork disks such as are used in connection with bottle stopper caps.Since the caps in which the cork disks are inserted and which constitutethe bottle stom'iing caps are usually made of tin or other light metalit will be assumed that the tin is in the form of long strips ofappropriate width and thickness. Such strips are fed under the plate 47and beneath the cutting head 23 until arrested by the stop meinber 43.Assuming new that the machine is in operation and the parts are allproperly timed the radial men'iber (il engages the bo-ttom member of theframe 7 and depresses the same along with the rod or bar This causes thesimultaneous downward movement of the converging ends of the severalarms 20, 21 and 22 and the simultaneous operation of the several partscarried thereby but for simplicity of description the course of a singlecap will be described in the making thereof. r1`he cutting member 28cuts from the tin strip a disk of appropriate size. As soon as thecutting' member 28 is arrested by engagement with the corresponding dieafter having cut through the tin strip the spring will yield and thenthe rod 29A will be forced into the die and thereby mold the tin diskinto a cap of appropriate shape, the die being so formed as to cause theskirt of thc cap to be crimped. As soon as the punching and crimping ofthe metal portion of the cap has been accomplished, the continuedrotation of the shaft 59 begins to release the frame 7 to the action ofthe springs 9 and the rod 6 is raised thus elevating the arms 20, 21 and22 and permitting the ungers 28 and 30 to be raised out of the path ofthe metal strip and the engagement of the trip 53 With the head 52 ofthe rod 49 Will raise the stop end 48 out of the path of the metal stripso the latter may be advanced a sulficient distance for a new blank tobe cut therefrom. The full raising of the stem 27, however will causethe trip 53 to escape from under the head 52 and the stop 48 1s againreturned into the path of the strip so that it has only a. chance tofeed to the requisite distance forward for the cutting of the new blank.

Considering now the cap which has been formed, the disk 3 has beenrotated a Sullicient distance to bring this cap under the head 38 of theplunger rod 34. During the cutting of the blank and the shaping of thecap the disk 3 has been held from rot-ation by the engagement of thenotch 75 of the pawl 74 over one of the pins 13. The rotation of theshaft 59 as soon as the punching and shaping has been finished bringsthe cams G8 and 81 in engagement with the arms 69 and 79 respectivel thecam 81 being shown as slightly in a Vance of the cam 68. As soon as thecam 81 becomes active the arm 79 is moved against the action of thespring 3() thus lowering the rod 78 and releasing the pawl 74 to theaction el' the spring Tt so that the pawl retains the disk 3 in thefixed position. As soon however as the cam 8l liiegins its inactivemovement then the spring 3() returns the rod 73 to its upper positionlift` ingl the pawl 74 free from the engaged pin 13 of the disk Il. lnthe meantin'ie the cam 38 has become acti ve to move the arm. (it) in a(.lireetion to,eause the bar to engage one of the pins 13 und thisengagement becomes such as to rotate the disk 3 about its vertical axisiinmediately after the pawl 74 has been lifted from its pin 13. Theparte are .so adjusted that the movement of the disk 3 is equal to thedistance between the centers of two of the perforutions 10, and as soonas thisI last named movement has been aceoniplished then the pawl 74 isagain lowered until its notch engages the next pin 13 thus locking thedisk 3 against further movement until the next cycle of operation isaccomplished.

The cap which has been formed by the action of the plungers 28 and 30 asjust described, is now under the plunger 34 and the next rotation of theshaft 59 will cause the lowering of the said plunger so that end 37 iscaused to enter the cup shaped cap and the engagement therewith of theprojecting end o the valve 39 will permit the outflow o a quantity ofcement gravitating from the reservoir 42 into said cap. On the raisingof the rod 34 the flow of cement is arrested by the closing of the valve39. On the next forward movement of the disk 3 the cap with the cementin it is brought under the plunger rod 43 and the third rotation of theshaft 59 will bring the plunger head 44 into the cup thereunder, but inthe meantime the slide 55 has been moved from the reservoir 57 by theaction of the Worm or cam drum 62 and has carried a disk of cork intothe ath of the plunger 44 and immediately above the cement-ed cap sothat on the downward movementof the plunger 44 the disk of cork isforced into the cap and against the cement and so properly seated in thecap. It will be understood that the next succeeding cap at the same timereceives cement while coincident with this operation a new cap is beingformed by the coaction of the plungers 28 and 30.

After the continued rotation of the disk 3 has carried the linished capaway from under the plunger 44, the stem 1G of the button or disk 15under-riding the cap in the die 11 is brought into engagement. with aboss or cam 82 on the disk or table 2 and the in 16 riding up this cam82 Will force the button 15 u Ward so as to lift the finished cap out ofits seat in the die 11. Overriding the disk 3 at a oint immediatelyadjacent to the position op the cam 82 on the table 2 is a curved finger83 fast on the casing 1 or other fixed portion of the structure so as toengage the lifted cap and direct it away from the die, in which it wasformed and the cap will be caused to fall into a suitably placedreceptacle.

It w1ll thus he seen that the machine is continuous and progressive. inoperation and is entirely anton'latic except for the feeding of themetal strip from which the blanks are originally cut. If this feed bealso made automatic then the machine becomes entirely automatic, but asthe feed of the strips forms no part of the present invention it is notshown in the drawings.

lhat is claimed is 1. In a machine of the character described, arotatable die support having a circular series of dies, a plungercoacting with the dies to cut and shape bottle caps, anotherl plungerand means coacting therewith forapplying fluid cement to the interior ofthe cap'while in the dies, and a third plunger for forcing cork diskslinto the ce mented caps.

2. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable support adaptedto hold a series of shaped bottle caps,` means for applying fluid cementonto the inner end wall of the shaped caps While in the rotatablesupport, and means for forcing cork disks onto the cement Within thecaps.

3. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable support adaptedto hold a series of shaped bottle caps, means for applying fluidcementing material `to the shaped caps, means for forcing cork disksonto the cementing material within the caps, and means for causing thesimultaneous action of the cement applying and cork disk inserting meansat spaced points in the series of bottle caps on the rotatable support.

4. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable series ofreceptacles adapted to hold bottle caps, means for automaticallyintroducing the caps into said receptacles, a plunger adapted to enterthe caps in succession while in the receptacles, said plunger having atits active end a valve with a projecting stem adapted to engage theinner Wall of the end of the cap and to open the valve by theprogressive movement of the plunger into the cap, a cement receptaclecommunicating with the valve end of the phinger, and means forintroducing cork disks into the caps and onto the cement depositedtherein.

5. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable die supporthaving a circular series of dies, a composite plunger coacting with thedies and having both cutting and shaping members acting in scqucnce tocut and shape bottle caps, another plunger for applying cement to theinterior of the caps while in the die, and a third plunger for forcingcork disks into the cemented cap.

6. In a machine of the character described, a plunger for applyingcement into the interior of the shaped cap comprising a head hoi'lsingmaterial for retardmg the flow of cement there-through and provided witha conduit leading to said head, a valve in said head nearer the outerend of the head than the retarding material, and the cement reservoirexterior to the stem of the plunger and communicating with the conduittherein.

7. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable support adaptedto hold a series of shaped bottle caps, means for applying fluidcementing material to the shapedN paps, means for carrying cork disksinto coincidence with the caps, and means for forcing the cork disksonto the cementing material within the caps.

8. In a machine of the character described, a series of receptacles forshaped bottle caps, plungers for introducing fluid cement and corkdisks, respectively, in sequence in the caps, and a common operatingmeans for the plungers comprising a reciprocating rod, connectionsbetween the latter and the plungers, a drive shaft, a cam on said shaft,and a frame on said rod engaging with the cam.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aliixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT B. COCHRAN, JR.

.Vitnesses:

M. B. COCHRAN, M. A. COCHRAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ID. C.

